You, too, can submit a proposal for the 2025 symposium!

In February we had a successful first annual LCLCA symposium, with 48 learning center professionals from across the nation attending virtually. We meet for our second symposium on February 27, 2025, and it will be even better. The wonderful thing about LCLCA is that this organization provides a space for us to gather and exchange ideas, and to network with people in our unique field. When we meet, we can let out our inner nerd (or am I the only nerdy one here?) and get excited about trying new things to make our learning centers a better place for students and staff.

Every professional in our organization has something valuable to share, so I want to encourage you to submit a proposal for a session at the 2025 symposium. Are you doing something cool in your student meetings, or do you have a great process for training staff? We want to learn about that. Are you working on building a new learning center? Share what you're learning in that process, or submit a discussion or roundtable type of session for gathering ideas and support from other learning centers. Do you have tips for work/life balance? I want to attend that session. Think outside the box - your session doesn't have to be a lecture or powerpoint presentation (although we love those, too!). A few years ago, I attended a conference session where we did some yoga and explored self-care in the context of our work. I loved it!

This year's theme is "Building Resilient Learning Centers: Blueprints for Success." When I think of resilience, I aways go back to Brene Brown's book, The Gifts of Imperfection - it's a excellent short read if you're interested in joining in my nerdiness. In that book, she lists the five most common factors of resilient people:

1. They are resourceful and have good problem-solving skills.

2. They are more likely to seek help.

3. They hold the belief that they can do something that will help them to manage their feelings and to cope.

4. They have social support available to them.

5. They are connected with others, such as family or friends.

So much of what we do as learning center professionals is about resilience. I can't wait to learn from you, and with you!